Self-playing piano.



n PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. J. W. DARLBY, JR. ,SELF PLAYING PIANO.

P L10 TI n r um 1:2126, 1905; A P A o I s a snnmksmm' 1.

auvent PATENTED FEBVl 20, 1906.

J. W. DARLEY, JR. SELF FLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED BBPT.26, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WNO. 813,355. PATENTED PEB. 2o, 1906.

, J. w. DARLEY, Jn.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED HEPT.26, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

y A y d" 6 UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE. JOHN w; DARLEY, JR., or Bar/rincari, MAaYLANo, Assienoa To WILLIAM KNABE & COMPANYMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A v(JORPORATION OF MARYLANJ.

SELF-PLAYING PIANO.

QSpecification of Letters Palt.

v Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application flied September 26, 1905. Serial No.280,224.

lthe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in Self-playing pianos of, the, type shown in my former application, filed July 24, 1905,l Serial No. 271,050; and the object of the present invention is to simplify the construction shown in said application.

With this object in view my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a piano with one of the ends removed. Fig. 2 is a broken front vi ew with a part of the top easing removed. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in elevation, showing the locking mechanism for the keys out of operation; and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the locking means holding` the keys locked.

i a represents one of the ordinary pivoted keys, and I) represents a bar extending across the piano andadapted when lowered to lock said keys against movement, resting upon strips of felt con said keys. The bar bris supported in brackets d, one of which is pivoted, as shown at e, Fig. 1, to each side of the piano.' Each of the brackets d is slotted, as shown at f, i through said slot into the bar b, thereby making the latter adjustable upon said brackets. 'lhese brackets d are of considerable size and weight, and unless positively prevented they will assume the position shown in Fig. 4, bringing the bar b in contact with the keys, locking them by gravity.

i represents a key-slip pivoted on the front frame of the piano and arranged to fold outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4. 'lo this ke -slip h is attached a rod t, which is bent lbwnwardly as shown at j, and provided with a horizontal pin k. This pin le when the key slip is folded down is brought into contact with the projecting'cnd m of a rotating locking-rod n, moving it against the tension of the spring o. The lower end of the rod n is and a headed screw g passes provided with a hook p, which engages a slot qin the upper partof the pedal-board r. 'It' is obvious from the description and from the construction shown in Figs. 3 and L1 of the drawin s that the foldingdown of the keyslip wil move forward the rod i., whereupon the pin k will strike the end fm of the lever a and unlock the pedal-board, whereupon the latter will fall by gravityA into the upper po'- sition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1

From the upper position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the pedals may be folded down into the lower position shown in Fig. 1, lin which position the piano may be operated as a self-playing instrument.

s represents a portion of the folding pedal-l board pivoted to Ithe frame of the piano, as shown at t, as 1n my former application. Pivoted to the pedal-board s is a push-rod u,

which extends up between the keys-ami the upper end of which contacts with a block o, fastened to the center of the. bar b. When the, pedal-board is folded up, as shown in Fig. l3,'the rod u holds the locking means away 'from the keys, as shown in Fig. 3 but when the pedal-board is folded down, as shown in Fig. 4, the bar u is drawrn down, whereupon the bar bv falls down and locks the keys, being carried down by the heavy brackets d. i

'lhe other parts of thelpiano are substantially the saine as those set forth -in my application above referred to.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, anddcsire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. .In a self-playing piano, the combina.- tion of keys, a gravity-operated locking-bar for said keys, means forholding said lockingbar out of engagement with said keys, and mechanism for withdrawing said means operated by the movement of the pedal-board, substantially as described.

2. [n a self-playing piano, the combination of keys, a locking-bar for saidr keys, means for holding said locking-bar out of engagement with said keys, and connections for withdrawing said holding means by the IOO i operation of the pedal-board, substantially y to said pedal-board, an

gagement with 'said keys, a pedalboard, and means for lockinv and unlocking said pedal` board, substantia ly as described.

4. In a self-playingY piano, the combination of keys, a gravity-operated locking-bar for said keys,a pivoted pedal-board, means operated by said pedal-boardl for holding said bar out of engagement with said keys, and means for locking and unlocking said pedal-board, including a pivoted key-slip and connections betweensaid key-slip and said pedal-board, substantially as described.

5. In a self-playing iano, the combination of keys, ya locking-Ibai for said keys, a pivoted pedal-board, a ush-rod connected d) holding said locking-bar out of contact with said keys when the pedal-board is folded u means or locking said pedal-board, inclu ing a hooked rod,

a pivoted key-slip, and a rod o erated by sald key-slip for moving said ro substantially as described. l

6. In a self-playing iano, the combinationof a pivoted pedaloard provided with a catch, arod proyided with a hooked end, a.

spring bearing against said rod, apivoted keys 1 p, and a bent rod attached thereto andfcarrying a pin, said pin bein adapted to strike said lrod and unlock sai pedal-board'when saidj key-slip is folded down, substantially as descibed.

In testimony whereof lI affix my signature 'in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. DARLEY, JR.

Witnesses:

CHARLES R. BOETTGER, E. A. DoLB. 

